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Effect of Topsoil Exposure during Lactation on Subsequent Performance and Abundance of Innate and Adaptive Immune Cells in Pigs

Monday, March 14, 2016
Grand Ballroom - Foyer (Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center)
Tsung-Cheng Tsai , Department of Animal Science, Division of Agriculture, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR
Hae-Jin Kim , Department of Animal Science, Division of Agriculture, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR
M. A. Sales , Department of Animal Science, Division of Agriculture, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR
Xiaofan Wang , Department of Animal Science, Division of Agriculture, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR
Gisela F. Erf , Department of Poultry Science, Division of Agriculture, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR
E. B. Kegley , Department of Animal Science, Division of Agriculture, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR
Franck G. Carbonero , Department of Food Science, Division of Agriculture, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR
Marie van der Merwe , University of Memphis, Memphis, TN
Randal K. Buddington , University of Memphis, Memphis, TN
Charles V. Maxwell , Department of Animal Science, Division of Agriculture, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR
Abstract Text:

Sows (PIC-29) with litter size >10 (n=20) were blocked by BW and parity and assigned to litters either managed conventionally in farrowing crates (C) or exposed to topsoil (S) from d4 postpartum to early weaning (d21), when 5 unisex littermates were penned together. Pigs were fed common antibiotic-free corn-SBM-DDGS diets (NRC 2012). Intake and BW were recorded by phase throughout nursery and grow-finish periods to determine ADG, ADFI, and G:F. Backfat (BF) and longissimus muscle (LM) area at the 10th rib were evaluated at the end of nursery (d39) and each subsequent phase in the grow-finish periods. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were collected on d4, d15, d20, d36, d56, and d95 for immunophenotyping. Data were analyzed using SAS MIXED procedure for RCBD. Despite lower BW at weaning (6.87 vs. 7.40 kg, P < 0.05), S pigs had higher ADG throughout the nursery period (0.42 vs. 0.35 kg/d, P < 0.01), resulting in a 2.21-kg difference between S- and C-pigs at end of nursery (P < 0.05). At study completion, S pigs tended (P > 0.10) to be 4.6 kg heavier than C pigs. Moreover, S pigs had greater ADFI than C pigs for overall nursery (0.62 vs. 0.51 kg/d; P < 0.01) and grow-finish periods (2.90 vs. 2.74 kg/d; P < 0.05). G:F at combined nursery phases 1-2 was greater in S pigs (0.68 vs. 0.58; P = 0.02), but greater in C pigs at overall grow-finish (0.38 vs. 0.36; P < 0.05). Carcass composition (P = 0.26) and BF (P = 0.10) were not different, but a larger LM area (18.04 vs. 16.24 cm2; P < 0.01) in S pigs resulted in 1.47 kg heavier lean tissue (P > 0.05) in S- compared to C-pigs at end of grower phase 1. Percentages of T-helper cells, Foxp3+ regulatory T-cells, dendritic cells, neutrophils, monocytes and NK cells varied (P < 0.01) with time. Time x treatment effects were evident on PBMC (P < 0.01) and granulocyte (P < 0.05) concentrations. PBMC concentrations were greater in S pigs on d4 and d15 but peaked in C pigs on d20 when levels decreased in S pigs (221 vs 97 ×106 cells/mL). Granulocyte concentrations were greater in S pigs on d4 and d15, but greater in C pigs on d56 when concentrations peaked in both groups (132 vs. 118 ×106 cells/mL). Findings in this study suggest that dirt exposure during lactation may explain improved performance in outdoor-reared pigs observed in previous studies.

Keywords:

dirt exposure, growth performance, innate and adaptive immunity

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